Drive against erring autos begins

Conducting a special drive against violation of rules by autorickshaws, personnel of Police Department and Transport Department booked 124 cases and seized 116 autorickshaws in the twin cities on Friday.

In separate teams, autorickshaws were checked at major junctions and roads in the twin cities. Cases were booked for violations like lacking documents including permit and driving licence. DCP (Crime & Traffic) B S Nemagouda, ACP (Traffic) M V Naganur, RTOs Ravindra Kavali, and Appayya Nalwatvadmath supervised the drive.

"The Regional Transport Authority (RTA) has already cautioned autorickshaw drivers and owners associations to have all documents required and to follow the rules. The drive started today would be conducted continuously," Police Commissioner M N Nagaraj said.

Around 18,000 autorickshaws are operating in the twin cities, with majority of them in Hubballi itself. Autorickshaws without permit would be traced during the drive. Fine would be imposed for violations, while seized autorickshaws would be released only after autorickshaw owners get the documents and release order for the RTO, he added.

Man found dead

A 40-year-old unidentified man was found murdered in a field near Bhairidevarakoppa.

Police suspected that somebody might have murdered him by hitting him with a lethal weapon. A case has been registered with APMC-Navanagar Police Station.